This Article Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Scott, H. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Scott, H. S.

Carotid Basilar Anastomosis—Persistent Hypoglossal Artery

Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Brisbane Hospital, Queensland

This excerpt was created in the absence of an abstract.

Three forms of carotid basilar anastomosis have been described. The abnormal vessel is either a trigeminal artery, an otic artery or a hypoglossal artery. Persistence of a hypoglossal artery is a rare condition. Begg (1961) believes he has described the first case of hypoglossal artery diagnosed during life. He has given an account of the radiological features of persistent hypoglossal artery together with the embryology of carotid basilar anastomosis.

Carotid basilar anastomosis is uncommon and is an incidental finding on cerebral angiography or at autopsy. There is no definite evidence as yet that it produces symptoms or clinical signs.

The most common form is due to a persistent trigeminal artery running from the internal carotid artery, as it lies in the carotid groove or lateral to the cavernous sinus, to join the basilar artery on the clivus. Of this form Begg has found at least 20 cases in the literature and a further ten cases have been detected in the Neurological Department of the Brisbane Hospital.

There are at least 130 cases of carotid basilar anastomoses in the literature including seven cases of persisting hypoglossal artery (Eadie and Jamieson, personal communication). Two of these hypoglossal arteries were discovered at autopsy before the advent of cerebral angiography (Batujeff, 1889; Oertel, 1922). The remaining five cases were described since 1950 (Lindgren, 1951; Giast and Piazza, 1957; Wiedenmann and Hipp, 1959, two cases; Begg, 1961). Because of its rarity this further case of hypoglossal artery is reported.